StayCation '17

Get nailed by a hurricane and see the southeast!  That's been the theme for us the past two weeks.

After 5 nights at the Langford Hotel, Downtown, Wifey, the two dogs, and I decamped to Coral Gables.  The last night at the Langford was a highlight.  Our friend Diane, recently restored to her usual Grove condo, ubered over and met us at the Langford rooftop bar.

At first the asshole doorman said no dogs, but Diane used her federal prosecutor ways, and I assisted with my charming ways, and the dogs were permitted outside.  I had martinis and Diane drank sparkling wine, and we re-lived the Big, Fat, Colombian wedding.  Diane said it was one of the most fun evenings she ever had.  She loved everyone's company, and went on and on about D1 and S1.

The next am, we packed up and checked into the Gables Hyatt.  Actually, we stopped by the house first.  Wifey and I did an experiment.  We determined our marriage can withstand about 1.5 hours in a house without air conditioning.  We got cranky and left.  Once the power comes back, we'll return.

The saddest part of the damage is my koi -- two weeks ago swimming happily in the pond, and now rotting carcasses on the surface.  I tried to scoop them out for the trash, but their koi bodies fell apart in the net.  I hope the raccoons can at least get some free sushi -- the smell isn't too pleasant, either.

Ah, the Gables Hyatt.  It's lovely, and the room is huge compared to the Langford.  The dogs seem to prefer the greener Gables to asphaltic Downtown.

Last evening, we strolled with them.  The Gables recently turned Giralda Street into a pedestrian only way.  It is lovely.  A place called "The Bar" sits where Hofbrau Haus used to be -- brought back fun memories from law school.

We made our way to Talavera, a great Mexican place.  I ordered a sangria, and Wifey loved it -- I joked that she pounded it.  The waiter came out with bad news and good news.  The power had gone out, so no food.  But the sangria was on the house.  We promised to visit again.

We walked to Books and Books, and ate outside in the café.  Fans were set up, and it was actually pleasant.

Wifey and I really do dig the Gables.  This stay may well be the impetus for us to actually consider fleeing the too large Pinecrest house and finding smaller digs in a city where we can walk to stuff.

We met a couple, probably in their 70s, who were sitting at Talevara.  They were gringos like us -- lifelong Gables folks.  The wife said she'd never live anywhere else.  They have a 1920s house completely renovated -- impact windows, of course.

If I get one of those, next storm Wifey can just pick up and leave.

In the mean time, it'd be nice to get electricity back at our place.  While I was there, a lineman came by.  He was from Bakersfield, CA, and was impressed I had driven through there a few times.  I asked him when we might be electrified.  He looked up at our transformer, encrusted by the neighbor's Royal Poinciana branches, and just shrugged and walked away.

So the staycation will continue...